Packet data router apparatus and method

Abstract

A packet data router ( 300 ) comprises a central node ( 200 ) that is configured and arranged to provide data packet forwarding services but not data packet routing services and a plurality of physically discrete application nodes ( 301, 302, and 303 ) that are each operably coupled to the central node wherein each of the application nodes are configured and arranged to provide data packet routing services but not data packet forwarding services.

1 . A packet data router comprising: 
 a central node configured and arranged to provide data packet forwarding services but not data packet routing services;    a plurality of physically discrete application nodes that are each operably coupled to the central node, wherein each of the application nodes are configured and arranged to provide data packet routing services but not data packet forwarding services.    
   
   
       2 . The packet data router of  claim 1  wherein the central node comprises a Packet Switch card.  
   
   
       3 . The packet data router of  claim 1  wherein the central node is further configured and arranged to maintain at least one data packet forwarding tree.  
   
   
       4 . The packet data router of  claim 1  wherein the central node is further configured and arranged to automatically multicast received Routing Protocol data packets to each of the application nodes.  
   
   
       5 . The packet data router of  claim 1  wherein each of the application nodes comprises means for attempting to respond to each received Routing Protocol data packet.  
   
   
       6 . The packet data router of  claim 5  wherein the means for attempting to respond to each received Routing Protocol data packet further comprises means for only actually responding to a given received Routing Protocol data packet upon being assigned by the central node.  
   
   
       7 . The packet data router of  claim 1  wherein each of the application nodes further comprises at least one external network interface and wherein each such external network interface is functionally visible to each of the application nodes.  
   
   
       8 . The packet data router of  claim 7  wherein the packet data router comprises a plurality of router instances and wherein at least one of the external network interfaces is discretely configured to support only a corresponding one of the plurality of router instances, such that each of the plurality of router instances is supported by at least one of the external network interfaces.  
   
   
       9 . The packet data router of  claim 8  wherein the central node is further configured and arranged to maintain a separate data packet forwarding tree for each of the router instances.  
   
   
       10 . A method of providing a data packet router comprising: 
 providing a central node configured and arranged to provide data packet forwarding services;    providing a plurality of physically discrete application nodes that are each operably coupled to the central node, wherein each of the application nodes are configured and arranged to provide data packet routing services and wherein each of the application nodes has at least one external network interface.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 using the central node to maintain a data packet forwarding tree.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 using the data packet forwarding tree when managing forwarding data packets via the data packet router.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein providing a central node further comprises providing a central node comprising a host processor and a network processor, and wherein: 
 using the central node to maintain a data packet forwarding tree comprises using the host processor to maintain the data packet forwarding tree;    using the data packet forwarding tree when managing forwarding data packets via the data packet router comprises using the network processor to use the data packet forwarding tree when managing forwarding data packets via the data packet router.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 using the host processor to select preferred portions of the data packet forwarding tree;    forwarding the preferred portions of the data packet forwarding tree, but not all of the data packet forwarding tree, from the host processor to the network processor.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 selecting, at the central node, a given one of the application nodes to process the routing protocol to provide a selected application node;    processing a routing protocol at the selected application node;    communicating processed routing protocol information from the selected application node to the central node;    communicating corresponding processed routing protocol information to at least some of the application nodes other than the selected application node.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein selecting, at the central node, a given one of the application nodes to process the routing protocol comprises selecting a first one of the application nodes as communicates a request to process the routing protocol.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 persisting selection of the selected application node to process the routing protocol pending receipt of a release message from the selected application node.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein communicating corresponding processed routing protocol information to at least some of the application nodes other than the selected application node further comprises communicating corresponding processed routing protocol information to all of the application nodes.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising, prior to selecting the selected application node: 
 determining, at at least one of the application nodes, a need to process a routing protocol;    communicating a corresponding routing protocol message to the central node.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein selecting, at the central node, a given one of the application nodes to process the routing protocol to provide a selected application node further comprises selecting the given one of the application nodes in response to at least one of: 
 a new route being added within a given routing instance;    a change in a status of a given external network interface as is attached to a given routing instance;    a change in an operational status of at least one of the application nodes;    an addition of a communication resource to a routing instance.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 selecting at least one of the external network interfaces to comprise a first group of external network interfaces;    selecting at least another one of the external network interfaces to comprise a second group of external network interfaces;    assigning the first group of external network interfaces to a first router instance;    assigning the second group of external network interfaces to a second router instance.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 not forwarding a data packet arriving via an external network interface as is assigned to the first router instance as arrives at an external network interface as is assigned to the second router instance.    
   
   
       23 . A packet data router apparatus comprising: 
 first means for providing data packet forwarding services but not data packet routing services;    a plurality of physically discrete second means that are each operably coupled to the first means for providing data packet routing services but not data packet forwarding services.    
   
   
       24 . The packet data router apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the first means is further for maintaining at least one data packet forwarding tree.  
   
   
       25 . The packet data router apparatus of  claim 24  wherein each of the plurality of physically discrete second means further comprises external network interface means, wherein at least some of the external network interface means are each assigned in a segregated fashion to different corresponding router instances.  
   
   
       26 . The packet data router apparatus of  claim 23  wherein each of the second means further comprises means for at least attempting to process routing protocol information in conjunction with an external information source.  
   
   
       27 . The packet data router apparatus of  claim 26  wherein each of the second means further comprises means for requesting that the first means assign a requesting second means to process a given routing protocol.